Since the offseason, there have been rumors about Heat star Jimmy Butler’s future. But after 22 games, the Miami Heat have officially started to listen to offers from opposing teams for Butler. ESPN’s Shama Charania reported that the top three teams that Butler mentioned he could be interested in are the Dallas Mavericks, the Houston Rockets, and the Golden State Warriors.
Butler is averaging 19 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists while shooting 36 percent on three-pointers in 17 games this season. During his 14-year NBA career, he is known to be a good regular-season player, but “Playoff Jimmy” arrives when the postseason begins. Butler has averaged 27.4 and 26.9 points per game during his previous two playoff runs.
Here are my top three potential landing spots for the six-time NBA All-Star, Butler.
1. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors started the season 12-3 and have recently lost six of their previous seven games. In the summer, they were star hunting and came up short. But with Stephen Curry turning 37 in a few months and Draymond Green nearing 35, it is wise for them to go all in again.
Golden State has elite veteran players but also one of the best players in the NBA who is 22 years old or younger. Jonathan Kuminga is a valuable asset in the league, and they would likely have to part with him to get a player of Butler’s caliber. This is the best spot for Butler to have the best chance to win now. Butler is a perfect fit in the Warriors’ offense as he complements Curry. Curry and Butler would be an excellent one-two punch, giving them a chance to beat anyone in the playoffs.
2. Dallas Mavericks
Butler is from Texas, and two teams from the state, the Mavericks, and the Rockets, were on his short list of teams he would go to. Although Butler is 35, playing with a dominant facilitator like Luka Doncic could add some longevity to his career.
Throughout his career, Butler has excelled with the ball in his hands but has come up short in the playoffs lately due to insufficient support. That wouldn’t be the case in Dallas. The Mavericks are Doncic’s team, and even with Kyrie Irving in the mix, he defers to Doncic on offense. A trio of Doncic, Butler, and Iriving is intriguing and would instantly elevate the Mavs to legit contenders in the NBA.
3. San Antonio Spurs
The report stated Butler wants to play for a contender, but the Spurs are an interesting team. Butler had a young, up-and-coming team on his list, the Rockets, but what about a pairing with Victor Wembanyama? Wembanyama averages 23.4 points, 10.4 rebounds, and an NBA-best 3.4 blocks per game. The Spurs are in the hunt for a playoff spot this season, as they are 12-12 right now and 11th in the Western Conference.
They already have a good young core surrounding Wemby with Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, Keldon Johnson, and Stephon Castle. But adding Butler adds a new element to their playoff hopes. The Spurs have the assets to obtain Butler. It is just a question of whether now is the time for Greg Popovich to make a push to compete for an NBA title once again.
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is ryanwohl). I may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
